God Promises...holiness Series

God promises…Holiness

Selected Scriptures

Introduction-

Recap-

We have been looking at the promises of God. Looking and seeing that God’s promises we can take to the bank. His faithfulness, His forgiveness, Grace, Mercy, and Him giving us purpose.

This morning we want to talk about Holiness.

When most people think of holiness, they think of perfection. (Usually self professed perfection standing on their rowan pedestal.)

Some think of people who are trying to be good, but fall short and are considered hypocritical because they act like they are perfect but they are not, people can see right through to their faults.

What does the Bible say about Holiness?

Actually the Bible has a lot to say about holiness.

Holiness begins with God and is filtered down to God’s people.

1 Peter 1:15-16

“But just as he who has called you is holy, so be holy in all that you do; for it is written; be holy, because I am holy.”

1 Samuel 2:2

“There is no one holy like the Lord, there is no one besides you, there is no rock like our God.”

Holiness is perfection. It begins with God.

A holy God who is perfect.

A Holy God who is without sin and without fault.

A Holy God who sets the standard and all fall short of the glory of God.

A Holy God who determines what is considered sin and what is pleasing or displeasing to Him.

A Holy God who determines what the punishment is for sinning against a holy God.

Isaiah 6:1-5

“In the year of king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted and the train of his robe filled the temple, above him were seraphs, each with six wings, with two wings they covered their feet, and with two they were flying and they were calling to one another. “Holy. Holy, Holy is the lord God Almighty, the earth is full of His glory.”

At the sound of His voice, the thresholds and doorpost shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

“Woe to me, I cried, I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the king, the Lord Almighty.”

The Nation of Israel had mocked God-

Isaiah was commissioned by God to call them to task. He says verse 1 that He saw (probably a vision) God sitting on a throne high and exalted, high and lifted up!

Seraphs all around the throne crying out Holy, Holy, holy- the triple reputation underscoring God’s infinite holiness. In His vision the doorpost shook and the room was filled with smoke and Gods powerful voice terrified them almost to death.

That’s a glimpse, a tiny portion of God’s holiness-

We treat him like a buddy.

We argue with Him.

We tell Him no.

When Isaiah got a glimpse of who was in front of him, he fell to his knees and was as a dead man waiting to be sentenced.

God’s holiness would of burnt him up if God would of let it.

That holy God tells his people that they must be holy!

Romans 12:1-

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.”

A holy God tells his people that they need to be holy.

How can we do that?

We cannot do it on our own. We cannot possibly have the power or motivation to do it without God’s help.

Where do we start?

By asking God to take something that is unclean and make it clean, where a holy God can dwell and work in our lives.

I. Become a vessel that God can use

The prophet Jeremiah saw that the potter was allowed to mold the clay into the pot that was needed.

God’s hands, where God was allowed to mold His people.

2 Timothy 2:15-

“Do your best to present yourselves to God as one approved, a workmen who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth.”

If we let God do the work, and we don’t jump off the table, He makes us useable vessels.

Our speech

Our actions

Our plans all get addressed by God.

He uses some for noble cause and some for everyday use.

Example-

Communion plates/ every day dinner plates. Both are needed, and both have a purpose.

To be used of God, we need to get rid of the things that makes us unclean.

God’s standard of holiness must be cleansed by God using His standards.

If you are to present yourself as one approved, you need to flee the things that would make you unclean and love the things that God loves.